FIIRO, AMEFAN Sign MOU on Agro-Equipment Development

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi and the Association of Machines and Equipment Fabricators of Nigeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to produce locally developed and fabricated equipment that suits the country’s tropical environment. This deal is aimed at addressing the challenges of accessibility and affordability of agricultural equipment, as well as providing job opportunities for the unemployed. The CEO of FIIRO, Dr. Gloria Elemo, in her address at the event explained one of the major outcomes of the initiative is to fast-track the agricultural value addition and the industrial revolution in Nigeria. She went further to state one of the characteristics of a developing nation is an appreciable level of industrialization. Dr. Elemo clarified the synergy will be based on translating the research results from FIIRO to products (equipment) for the market.

NAICB Target 15million Farmers for Crop, Livestock Insurance

 

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina
Hon. Minister of Agriculture

 

Farmers nationwide will begin to benefit from the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Company’s (NAIC) N5 billion, to support both crops and livestock farmers. The fund will provide support for its reforms, strengthen its operation, and roll out agricultural insurance products.

This intervention targets 15 million farmers across the country for three years.

The regional director south-west Mr. Olalekan Quadri, who represented the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and rural development, made this known in the Lagos rural HQ. The Hon. Minister restated the need to reposition the company for improved risk management in agricultural investment and the other effects of climate change. Reminiscing on the 2012 flood, the Hon. Minister said the incident was a wakeup call for the government, resulting in the flood recovery and food production policy that saved the country from what could have been a famine.

Development Bank of Nigeria, a good intervention… thinking out loud

CBN Governor

Mr.Godwin Emefiele

President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the Development bank of Nigeria with N300 billion seed money, that is specifically and first ever for the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises. This cannot come at a better time than now, when Nigerians have to look outside the box of white collar jobs to opportunities for self reliance in other areas. The agricultural sector is witnessing a quantum leap in growth and there is influx of the younger generation to replace the old, un-energetic farmers in the farm. These groups of Nigerians are in dire need of Capital to start or grow their businesses. The agricultural sector players in particular require medium to long term loan which this intervention will provide; same goes for some other sectors of the economy where opportunities abound.

The Rise of ‘ipad neck’

 

The use of ipads has contributed in a significant way to ICT and digital advancement; it has improved the efficiency of job delivery both at individual and at organizational levels. However, the uncontrolled use of tablet can be detrimental to health, as disclosed by experts and researchers from Washington State University. The study revealed that the device puts thrice as much pressure on the human neck as that of the desk computer. 33 university staff and students who are regular users of the tablets were used for the study. The participants were tested in different positions while reading and typing for 2-5 minutes; with radiographs and other instruments. The instruments were used to assess the gravitational demand on the neck.

NIOMR Acquires N1.5 billion Vessel

 Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research has acquired and launched a N1.5 billion multipurpose Vessel, R.V Bayagbona for fishery and Research activities in tropical waters. Dr. Gbolahan Akande, the Executive Director of the Institute disclosed this to Newsmen at the Institute. The vessel, he said, is capable of doing bottom trawling, fully equipped with echo sounding and sampling gadgets. The storage is capable of holding fish at -24 degree C and a blast freezing at -40 degree C. The acquisition of the vessel is a major milestone for bridging the supply gap of fish in Nigeria.

The ED revealed that the Institute has adopted 3 secondary schools in the state for fish farming; they are Magbon Alade Community School, Ibeju Lekki; Kings College, Lagos and Lagos Model School, Badore.   

          

Agriculture as Panacea to Food Security and Development

Do you know that about 842million people in the world go to bed hungry, i.e. one out of every eight people, (FAO, 2013). Asia has the highest percentage, followed by Africa. Report on Africa Multiple Indicator Scorecard on hunger and Food Security revealed that Nigeria has the highest number of hungry people in Africa with a total 12.1 million, (FAO). Paradoxically, Nigeria has great potentials for agriculture, to meet the food security needs of her population; this include huge agricultural land mass, abundant water resources, good soils, human resources and huge market of over 171 million population, as well as extensive regional market. Agriculture is the foundation for food security and development; a food secured nation attains more rapid development than that which is food insecure.

ECO BANK and FCMB set to empower the SMEs

Eco bank and the First City Monument Bank, (FCMB) are both set to support the growth of the SMEs in Nigeria. This was disclosed by both
banks at different fora in Lagos this week. Eco bank launched an initiative known as the 'SMEs Club', which is a platform established to provide funding and services to the SMEs across the country.

Agricultural GDP rose to 46.67% in 3 years, Akinwumi Adesina

The contribution of the agricultural sector to the total Gross Domestic Product, (GDP) of Nigeria has witnessed an upward trend up to 46.6 trillion in 3 years. This was disclosed by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina on the occasion of the investiture of the award of ‘Newswatch Man of the Year’ on him by Newswatch Magazine in Abuja. While acknowledging the honour bestowed on him, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina disclosed that this figure surpassed that of eight years of 2000 to 2008 altogether, (42 trillion).

FUNAAB, Rotary club Train Undergraduates on Job Creation

  

         
Prof. Olusola Oyewole, VC UNAAB

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB), in conjunction with the Rotary Club Shagamu and Rotary Club of Altaden, California USA has undertaken training of undergraduates on other skills to enhance their employment opportunities. The training will also enable them to be employers of labour rather than being employees. This was made known by Prof. Femi Onifade, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies of FUNAAB.